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Preview: Devils at Jets

Bryan Little returns for Winnipeg; Taylor Hall still out for New Jersey

by
Patrick Williams
/ NHL.com Correspondent

DEVILS (10-6-5) at JETS (10-12-2)

8 p.m. ET; MSG+, TSN3, NHL.TV

Devils team scope

New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall participated in the morning skate but will not play. He has missed the past seven games because of a torn meniscus in his left knee but said he hopes to play Thursday when the Devils continue their four-game road trip against the Chicago Blackhawks or Saturday against the Nashville Predators. Initially the injury was expected to keep Hall out of the lineup longer. "Sometimes your body really accepts injuries well, and you can heal from them," Hall said. "[Tuesday] felt really good. Better than [Monday]." New Jersey is 1-3-2 in its past six games and is 3-6-3 on the road. Forward Miles Wood will play after being recalled from Albany of the American Hockey League on Monday. Forward Beau Bennett will not play after sustaining a leg laceration in practice Monday. Goaltender Cory Schneider will start. He has allowed nine goals in his past two starts. "I think the way we're playing recently, we're leaving it up to chance," Schneider said. "We're not bad in all areas by any means, but we're not playing the kind of hockey we normally play. This week it's important to getting back to dictating the game and play the way we want to play."

Jets team scope

The Winnipeg Jets will have center Bryan Little back in the lineup after he missed 23 games with a lower-body injury. It will be Little's second game since Feb. 18; he missed the final 25 games of the 2015-16 season with an upper-body injury. Little will center a line with Drew Stafford and Blake Wheeler. "I'm looking forward to it," Little said. "I'm sure it's going to take a little bit to get back into the swing of things. I'm probably going to lean on [Stafford and Wheeler] to help me out at first." Wheeler said, "[Little] is as solid as you can get. You probably notice him most when he is not in the lineup, and I mean that as a compliment. He is so steady with what he brings to the table every day and is probably our most consistent player." Little's return provides more scoring strength down the middle; center Mark Scheifele has four points (two goals, two assists) in his past eight games after getting 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in his first 16 games. The Jets are 1-5-0 in their past six games but have won four in a row at home after a 3-0 victory against the Nashville Predators on Sunday. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck did not participate in the morning skate, but he will start his fifth consecutive game.

Status report

Wood will play after being recalled from Albany of the American Hockey League on Monday. Boucher will be a healthy scratch for the third consecutive game. … Petan was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Sunday to make room for Little. Perreault, who wore a non-contact jersey in the morning skate, is progressing. "He has been off the ice a little bit more, so we need to make sure that his legs are right," coach Paul Maurice said.

Who's hot

Cammalleri has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past three games after returning because of a family issue. Moore has a goal and two assists in a two-game point streak. … Hellebuyck has a .927 save percentage in his past four starts.